In 1587, 117 English settlers established a colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. When Governor John White returned in 1590 after a supply mission to England, he found the settlement completely abandoned with only the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a fence post.

The mysterious disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke stands as one of America's most enduring historical puzzles. In 1587 a group of English settlers established a colony on Roanoke Island off the coast of what's now North Carolina. When supply ships returned three years later in 1590 the entire settlement had vanished without a trace except for the word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post.

This 16th-century mystery continues to captivate historians researchers and curious minds alike. The settlement's sudden disappearance during a pivotal time in early American colonization has spawned countless theories but no definitive answers. While evidence suggests the colonists may have integrated with local Native American tribes or met a more tragic fate the true story of what happened between 1587 and 1590 remains shrouded in uncertainty.

The Roanoke Colony emerged from England's first attempts to establish a permanent presence in North America during the late 16th century, specifically in modern-day North Carolina.

Sir Walter Raleigh received a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1584 to colonize North America. The charter granted him rights to explore territory between Florida and Canada, establish settlements within 7 years, and claim land for England. Raleigh envisioned Roanoke as a strategic base for:

• Launching privateering raids on Spanish treasure ships
• Creating an English foothold in the New World
• Establishing profitable trade routes
• Exploiting natural resources like timber cedar lumber

The initial colonization effort launched in 1585 under Governor Ralph Lane included 108 English settlers:

• 75 military men
• 25 craftsmen artisans
• 8 colonial officials

Timeline	Key Events
July 1585	Settlers arrive on Roanoke Island
June 1586	Colony abandoned due to supply shortages
June 1586	Survivors return to England with Sir Francis Drake

The settlers constructed a fort settlement but faced numerous challenges:

• Depleted food supplies
• Hostile relations with local Secotan tribes
• Limited agricultural success
• Harsh winter conditions

These early colonists departed Roanoke in 1586 when Sir Francis Drake offered them passage back to England during a supply stop, leaving the settlement temporarily abandoned before the 1587 attempt.

John White led 117 English settlers to establish a permanent colony on Roanoke Island in July 1587. This new group consisted of entire families rather than just soldiers and consisted of craftsmen, builders, and farmers equipped for long-term settlement.

The colonists landed on Roanoke Island on July 22, 1587, discovering the abandoned remains of the previous settlement. They immediately began rebuilding structures and fortifications at the original site. White established positive relations with several Native American tribes, including the Croatoan people, though tensions remained with other local groups. The settlers constructed homes, workshops, and defensive structures within their first month.

Colony Details	Statistics
Total Settlers	117
Men	90
Women	17
Children	10
Arrival Date	July 22, 1587

Virginia Dare became the first English child born in the Americas on August 18, 1587. She was the daughter of Eleanor Dare, John White's daughter, and Ananias Dare, one of the colony's assistants. The birth symbolized the colony's intention to establish permanent roots in the New World. Three other English children were born in the colony within the next few weeks.

Virginia Dare Details	Information
Birth Date	August 18, 1587
Parents	Eleanor & Ananias Dare
Location	Roanoke Island
Historical Significance	First English birth in Americas

The Roanoke Colony's fate unfolded during a critical three-year period between Governor John White's departure in 1587 and his return in 1590, marking one of America's earliest unsolved mysteries.

Governor John White sailed to England in late August 1587 to secure additional supplies for the struggling colony. His return faced multiple obstacles, including England's war with Spain the following year. The Spanish Armada's threat to English ships prevented any rescue attempts in 1588, while financial difficulties hindered subsequent voyages. White finally secured passage on a privateering expedition in 1590, reaching Roanoke Island three years after his departure.

Upon reaching Roanoke Island on August 18, 1590, White's expedition found the settlement completely deserted. The colonists had dismantled their homes, suggesting an organized departure rather than a sudden evacuation. Two significant clues remained:

• The word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post at the settlement's entrance
• The letters "CRO" etched into a nearby tree

The colonists had previously agreed to carve a Maltese cross if they left under duress, but no such cross was found. The settlement contained:

Evidence Found	Condition
Buildings	Dismantled
Fortifications	Intact
Personal Items	Missing
Graves	None visible
Signs of Violence	None apparent

The "CROATOAN" inscription pointed to Croatoan Island (modern-day Hatteras Island), home to friendly Native Americans who had maintained positive relations with the settlers. However, adverse weather conditions prevented White from investigating the Croatoan settlement, forcing his return to England without discovering the colonists' ultimate fate.

The final documented activities of the Roanoke Colony span from Governor John White's departure in August 1587 to his return in August 1590. The following timeline details the last known events leading to the colony's disappearance.

The colonists' final recorded communications occurred through Governor John White before his departure on August 27, 1587. White documented a meeting where the settlers agreed to carve a Maltese cross if they relocated under distress. The colonists also established a plan to move "50 miles into the maine," referring to the mainland, if circumstances required evacuation. Their last written records indicated adequate food supplies through farming initiatives planted earlier that summer.

Upon White's return in 1590, the settlement revealed several key pieces of evidence:

• The word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post

• The letters "CRO" etched into a nearby tree trunk

• Dismantled buildings with materials removed systematically

• Buried items including:

• Iron chests

• Personal belongings

• Maps

• No signs of:

• Violence or struggle

• Human remains

• The agreed-upon Maltese cross

Evidence Type	Location	Condition
Main Carving	Fence post	Intact, clearly visible
Secondary Carving	Tree trunk	Partial inscription
Settlement structures	Colony site	Dismantled methodically
Personal items	Underground caches	Preserved in iron chests

The physical evidence suggests an organized departure rather than a forced evacuation or catastrophic event. The systematic removal of structures indicates the colonists had time to plan their movement, while the preserved items in buried caches points to an intention to return.

Historical evidence points to several compelling explanations for the disappearance of the Roanoke colonists between 1587-1590. Archaeological findings combined with historical records support two primary theories about their fate.

Archaeological discoveries indicate a possible integration of Roanoke colonists with local Native American tribes. Excavations at Hatteras Island, the historical location of Croatoan, revealed European artifacts mixed with indigenous materials dating to the late 16th century. These items include:

European Artifacts Found	Location	Dating Period
Brass rings	Hatteras Island	1580-1600
English copper	Cape Creek	Late 16th century
Tudor-era pottery	Croatoan site	1580-1590

Reports from English explorers in 1603 documented light-skinned, blue-eyed natives among the Croatoan tribe. The Zuniga Map of 1608 marks the presence of European settlers living inland with Native American communities.

Environmental and military conflicts present alternative explanations for the colony's disappearance. Tree-ring analysis reveals a severe drought from 1587-1589 that created dire conditions:

Period	Environmental Condition	Impact
1587-1589	Extreme drought	Crop failure
1588	Major hurricane	Coastal destruction
1589-1590	Food shortages	Regional conflict

Spanish military records document potential hostile actions against English settlements during this period. Archaeological evidence shows burned structures at several coastal Native American sites, suggesting violent conflicts in the region. Local tribal warfare between the Secotan Croatan groups coincided with the colony's disappearance timeframe.

Archaeological investigations on Roanoke Island reveal new insights into the Lost Colony through advanced scientific techniques. Recent excavations combine traditional archaeology with cutting-edge technology to uncover evidence of colonial life.

Archaeological teams discovered significant artifacts at Cape Creek on Hatteras Island in 2015, including English copper rings, sword handles, writing slates. The First Colony Foundation's excavations at Fort Raleigh exposed a metallurgical workshop containing crucibles, furnace parts, copper, lead materials dating to the 1585-1590 period. A 2020 ground-penetrating radar survey identified previously unknown structures beneath layers of soil, including building foundations consistent with 16th-century English construction techniques.

Time Period	Key Archaeological Discoveries
1585-1587	English pottery, metalworking tools, coins
1587-1590	Personal items, carved posts, building materials
1590-1600	Mixed European-Native American artifacts

• The Lost Colony of Roanoke mysteriously disappeared between 1587 and 1590, leaving only the word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post as evidence.
• The colony was established in 1587 with 117 English settlers led by John White, including the birth of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America.
• When Governor White returned in 1590 after a three-year delay due to the Spanish Armada, he found the settlement deserted with buildings methodically dismantled.
• Archaeological evidence suggests two main theories: the colonists either integrated with local Native American tribes (supported by European artifacts found on Hatteras Island) or succumbed to natural disasters and warfare.
• Recent discoveries, including English artifacts mixed with Native American materials and ground-penetrating radar findings, continue to provide new insights into this enduring historical mystery.

The Lost Colony of Roanoke stands as one of America's most enduring historical mysteries. While archaeological evidence hints at both peaceful integration with Native Americans and possible violent ends the true fate of the 117 colonists remains unknown.

Modern scientific techniques and ongoing research continue to uncover new clues about what happened during those crucial years between 1587 and 1590. Yet the disappearance of the entire colony with only the word "CROATOAN" left behind continues to captivate historians and researchers alike.

The story of Roanoke serves as a testament to the challenges faced by early colonial settlements and reminds us that some historical mysteries may never be fully solved.